STS appealed to the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting on conducting an unscheduled inspection of the TV channel “NEWSONE”

State Tax Service of Ukraine appealed to the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting with a request to conduct an unscheduled inspection of the TV channel “NEWSONE”.

Reason for this appeal was the dissemination of unreliable information about activities of the State Tax Service by the TV channel “NEWSONE” on the air on 31.07.2020 and on the website “NEWSONE.UA” on 25.08.2020. At the same time, position of the State Tax Service of Ukraine was not voiced, despite the fact that the State Tax Service’s comments on the situation mentioned in stories were posted on the STS’s web portal and on the Facebook page.

Subsequently, according to Article 64 and 65 of the Law of Ukraine “On Television and Radio Broadcasting”, the State Tax Service sent a requirement to the TV channel’s editorial office with a substantiated request to publish position of the State Tax Service regarding issues voiced on air. This is not only the STS’s right to defend reputation but also protection of the taxpayers whose information has been made public.

Any response has been received from the TV channel so far despite the fact that letters were sent on August 13 and 28, 2020. In addition, the State Tax Service requested to report on the consideration of the above-mentioned appeals by the NEWSONE TV channel management on September 7, 2020 but again any response was received.

Considering this unacceptable, as such situation limits our citizens’ rights to receive reliable information, because society has the right to hear two points of view and make conclusions depending on the completeness of received information. STS is ready to protect this right of our society.

Given this, the State Tax Service of Ukraine appealed to the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting with a request to appoint an unscheduled inspection on the basis of reasoned request of a public authority, which indicates signs of violations of the law and / or license conditions by the licensee and to apply sanctions to the specified Television and Radio Organization for violation of requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On Television and Radio Broadcasting”.